My Photos: Turkey -- Mosaics -- Istanbul -- Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

1465 AD

This large complex was home to Ottoman sultans from 1465 - 1856. It was basically a walled city, containing courtyards, mosques, shops, a hospital, a mint, a harem complex, a royal complex, and hundreds of rooms.

Unfortunately, the palace was not open to tourists the day we visited, no reason given, but seeing the guns the guards held, we were not going to ask any questions.